"A new music teacher will be arriving soon. Students with interests in this area can go and consult her more often."
Hiratsuka Shizuka scanned the room, feeling that the students' expressions were a bit strange.
"Also, for the Cultural Festival, please have the class president tally the performances. The part regarding the stalls for selling goods also needs to be registered."
"Nakajima Saki?"
The girl looked up, her pink phone still clutched in her hand.
[Saki-chan: Please! Help me teach that stupid girl a lesson!]
The other party replied with something.
"Teacher Hiratsuka?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at the girl's profile. "Your face... what happened to it?"
Everyone fell into a momentary silence.
What was going on with everyone?
..."Brother Itō!"
At the school gate, three mature-looking men were squatting on the flower bed, clutching crumpled cigarettes in their mouths.
Nakajima Saki carried her school bag, her face full of grievance.
Itō Mitsuo bit down on his cigarette, his yellowed teeth baring in a grin, and the necklace around his neck flashed blindingly. "You look very pretty today."
The girl's slightly curled black hair was piled up fluffily, and several stars hung from her cute little school bag. Aside from half of her face being somewhat red, her entire look and outfit indeed made Itō Mitsuo and his subordinates unable to take their eyes off her.
Tsk, but why did this feeling seem so familiar...?
Scratching his head, Itō Mitsuo stared with his uneven eyes, his tongue rolling around as he constantly displayed his masculinity. "Tell me, Saki, which bastard was it?"
Nakajima Saki walked a few steps behind the wall. Since school had just let out, she didn't want others to see her associating with social delinquents.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and shook her head pitifully. "It wasn't a boy, it was a girl. She..."
"She copied my style and even cursed my mother!"
The girl pointed to her scratched cheek. "She even pushed me!"
Itō Mitsuo gave a 'tch,' casually threw his cigarette butt on the ground, and stood up. "A girl?"
Behind him, the two lackeys looked at each other, their eyes flashing with inexplicable thoughts.
"What do you want to do?"
The other party asked. Nakajima Saki lowered her head, her cute face showing a look of reluctance.
But her eyes were full of malice.
"Brother Mitsuo... maybe we should just forget it?"
Itō Mitsuo could tell that this girl, who had always been close to him, was an innocent and simple person. She was a bit timid and not very eloquent; someone like her would definitely be bullied at school.
Thinking back on his own past experiences, Itō Mitsuo spat and made a ruthless decision. "Bring her to that karaoke box—the one we used to go to, you know the one?"
Nakajima Saki lowered her voice fearfully. "Brother Mitsuo, what are you going to do? She's my friend..."
Itō Mitsuo's uneven eyes stared at the girl as he grunted disdainfully. "Let me teach you a few things, Nakajima. People like that won't be your friends. Your personality is too weak; just like a wolf pack hunting, they'll always pick the weak, injured prey to start their meal."
"Today, let me teach you the rules of survival in this society!"
With a toothpick in his mouth, Itō Mitsuo left the school gate ahead of her with his two subordinates. He instructed Nakajima Saki that she must bring the person who bullied her to the karaoke box.
If she couldn't bring herself to do it, that person would only bully her again next time.
Nakajima Saki meekly saw off Itō Mitsuo, brushed off the fingers he had just touched, and stood back at the school gate, shaking out her hair as she waited for that figure to appear.
Sen Getsusa, how about I record a video for you in a little while?
...Sen Getsusa was carrying her school bag, with Hayami Mari and Yuno Gasai beside her.
The three of them each had a Little Penguin popsicle in hand, slurping away and eating as they walked like elementary school students.
Nakajima Saki saw the three of them from afar. She waved her arms broadly, deliberately drawing the attention of those around her. Then, she walked over openly and reached out toward Sen Getsusa.
"What happened today was a misunderstanding, Sen Getsusa-san." Nakajima Saki smiled brightly. "I want to say I'm sorry. It was my mistake that led to..."
Yuno Gasai narrowed her eyes and said nothing. Sen Getsusa licked her lips with a 'mhm' and shook Nakajima Saki's hand with total indifference.
"It's fine... is there anything else?"
Seeing the girl continue to block the path, Sen Getsusa asked.
"Well, well, I... I thought that as an apology, I'd like to invite you somewhere!" Nakajima Saki bowed to her formally. "Apologizing when you've done something wrong has always been my creed. If Sen-san could accept, that would be wonderful!"
"Go somewhere?" Yuno Gasai's mocking gaze seemed to pierce through Nakajima Saki's disguise as she asked softly, "That place... only Tsukisa can go, right?"
Nakajima Saki kept her head down, her palms sweating.
"Oh, it's fine~ Then Yuno can take Mari home first. Wait for me at home, okay?"
Sen Getsusa let go of Hayami Mari's hand with a smile and affectionately rubbed the top of her head.
"Tsukisa—"
"What's the big deal?" Sen Getsusa smiled as she pushed Yuno Gasai's shoulder to get her moving. "I'll be back soon. She's probably just treating me to some food or something, right? Don't worry, Yuno."
Yuno Gasai was, of course, not worried.
Ever since she saw Sen Getsusa's firm, well-proportioned leg shatter the thick, solid wall of her own home in an instant, she had been at ease.
She was worried about Nakajima Saki, okay?
Yuno Gasai gave Nakajima Saki a look of pity and led Hayami Mari away at a quick pace.
Good luck.
"So, Saki, where are we going?"
After seeing the two off, Sen Getsusa turned back around, her hands behind her back, bouncing on her toes with plenty of energy.
"Ah?" Nakajima Saki was still immersed in Yuno Gasai's strange expression. She took a deep breath. "Let's go... singing?"
Singing?
Sen Getsusa blinked. "I thought there would be good food..."
"There is! Of course there is. We can buy some on the way, and we can order a lot at the karaoke box too!" Nakajima Saki held up the small bag in her hand. "My treat, how about it?"
"I'd feel a bit bad..."
"Oh, what's there to be embarrassed about! Let's go, let's go. Consider it my apology for today!"
Before Sen Getsusa could think further, Nakajima Saki grabbed the girl's soft hand and pulled her along. The two headed straight for the nearby karaoke box.
To avoid any complications and stay away from Yuno Gasai and other classmates, Nakajima Saki specifically chose a small path she didn't often take.
"What does Tsukisa's family do?"
As they walked, the girl chatted with Sen Getsusa. She was quietly casting out bait, testing the waters ahead of time for Itō Mitsuo.
Thinking of Sen Getsusa's fate in a short while, Nakajima Saki suddenly felt a sense of sympathetic melancholy, like the fox grieving for the rabbit.
She glanced sideways at this cheerful girl who was skipping along.
Her ears were small and soft, with her hair tucked behind them. From the side, her straight nose traced a playful arc, and her slightly drooping eyes were charmingly punctuated by a beauty mark.
So beautiful... but what a pity, Sen Getsusa.
After tonight, I'll make sure to give your video plenty of publicity.
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